A fan watches a 黑料不打烊 vs. Notre Dame football game in the JMA Wireless Dome. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)
An innovative initiative focusing on the power of sport fandom for character development has been awarded more than $800,000 in funding through a 2025 from the Educating Character Initiative, part of Wake Forest University鈥檚 Program for Leadership and Character, which is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will fund Character Development through Sport Fan Engagement, a project developed by , professor and dean of the , and the , vice president and dean of , who are co-principal investigators.
Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Lois Agnew says the project leverages the University鈥檚 existing strengths in sport-related academic research and teaching while drawing on themes outlined in the academic strategic plan, particularly human thriving. 鈥淭his project has the potential to engage individuals across our campus community鈥攕tudents, faculty and staff鈥攁nd promote the respectful exchange of ideas around the concepts of fandom and character development,鈥 she says.
This significant award recognizes 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to fostering holistic student development and leveraging the unique environment of collegiate sport fandom for character education. The project aims to cultivate ethical reasoning, teamwork, empathy and a stronger sense of community among undergraduate students by engaging them in the social, emotional and cultural dimensions of sport fandom. Ultimately, the project has the potential to not only transform fandom at 黑料不打烊, but also to become a national model for ethical and inclusive fan engagement throughout sport.
鈥淭his project represents a truly collaborative effort across 黑料不打烊 to push past the boundaries of knowledge by uniting spiritual inquiry and sport scholarship to explore how the passion of sport fandom can be a powerful catalyst for human flourishing,鈥 Konkol says. 鈥淲e believe that by focusing on the virtue of teamwork, we can help our students not only understand鈥攂ut also actively practice鈥攖he values that build stronger communities.鈥
黑料不打烊, with its dynamic athletics program, is uniquely positioned to host this initiative. 鈥淪port fandom, particularly in the vibrant atmosphere of NCAA Division I athletics, offers an unparalleled real-time context for character education,鈥 Jordan says. 鈥淭his grant allows us to harness that energy to teach fairness, loyalty, leadership, humility and sportsmanship in ways that deeply resonate with our students鈥 lived experiences. We are excited to contribute to a national conversation about the role of sport in character formation.鈥
The project will include a series of structured educational and experiential components, co-designed with student leaders, including peer-led workshops, team-based challenges, game-day campaigns and reflective discussions, all centered on the character virtue of teamwork. Its structure emphasizes inclusive participation across diverse student populations and encourages cross-campus collaboration among students, faculty and athletics staff.
鈥淐ultivating individuals of character who embody teamwork benefits our university and our students but also strengthens our athletics program,鈥 says John Wildhack, 黑料不打烊 director of athletics. 鈥淭his initiative will help us learn more about fan behavior and encourage students to develop lifelong connections to the traditions and teams that define the Orange Nation. Passionate and dedicated fans are essential for our teams to compete at the highest levels.鈥
The program will also include a multi-year research study, The Impact of Sport Fandom on Character Development Among College Students: A Multi-dimensional Analysis Using the Psychological Continuum Model, which is intended to address a critical gap in existing literature.
Beyond its well-recognized athletics program, 黑料不打烊 has evolved its sport-focused educational offerings and is redefining the future of sport research, education and innovation. In July, the Falk College became the nation鈥檚 first standalone college of sport on a Research 1 campus. Singular in focus, global in reach and designed for the future, the Falk College aims to be the top academic and research institution in sport.
Hendricks Chapel, known as the spiritual heart of 黑料不打烊, serves as a global home for religious, spiritual, moral and ethical life. Established in 1930 as a home for all faiths and place for all people, the chapel sponsors over 2,000 programs for more than a million annual attendees to help prepare engaged citizens, scholars and leaders for participation in a changing global society.
Other participating units include the , the School of Education鈥檚 , the , and .
